\u201cI\u2019ve always really enjoyed film,\u201d she says. \u201cI think the obsession, I guess you could call it, started when I was in high school. When you have sleepovers with your friends, or you go out to parties, or you go shopping, and you bring this little disposable film camera with you? It\u2019s so fun. You get the photos developed and, honestly, every time you get the photos developed, it feels a bit like Christmas morning. You see photos that you forgot you even took.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Ubuntu](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783484852_651_image.webp\")
\nPhotograph: Richard HolmesWinder, counter and shutter button. The controls on the Ubuntu Film camera are simple.
<\/p>\n
But, a little bit like those piles of Christmas morning wrapping, the waste started to bother her. Disposable cameras offered both convenience and the nostalgic thrill of film, but after 30 or so clicks of the shutter, the whole camera went in the bin. She wanted a better way: the convenience of disposable, at a price more affordable than a proper camera.<\/p>\n
The answer was Ubuntu Film Co., which sells pocket-sized\u00a0film cameras that feel and operate like the popular disposable versions, but with the bonus of being reusable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pre-order sales opened in October 2023 and took off, allowing Mia and her co-founder to bootstrap the business.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat initial demand made me realise, oh wow, there\u2019s definitely a market for cute film cameras that are reusable,\u201d says Anderson.<\/p>\n
The cameras themselves are deliberately simple.<\/p>\n
Ubuntu Film\u2019s cameras have a simple 28mm lens that\u2019s similar in feel to a disposable camera. A built-in flash illuminates the scene, but works best within about one metre of the camera. There\u2019s no focusing system to fiddle with and no manual settings to master, making them well suited to beginners, teens, wedding guests and anyone who wants the pleasure of film without the technical barrier of vintage cameras.<\/p>\n
Because of their simple construction, they work best in bright light: think daytime landscapes, portraits and social scenes. For snapping away in darker rooms or at sunset, the closer you are to the subject the better. But also, the joy of an analogue camera like this is that it doesn\u2019t all have to be perfect. You\u2019re not doing this for likes or Instagram impact, but for a memory to pop up IRL once the film is developed. That means you can lean into the creativity that imperfection offers.<\/p>\n
But… what film also offers is a bill. <\/p>\n
A roll of film costs between R250 and R300, with development usually adding another R100 or more. That means every frame comes with a price tag, and every click of the shutter is going to set you back about 10 bucks. For anyone raised on digital-first, that is definitely going to feel a bit weird. But that\u2019s also the point. Attaching a price tag to the click of a shutter means you\u2019ll be more intentional about the photos you take.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone loves to document what they\u2019re doing, whether it\u2019s an event, a wedding, a party, or just hanging out with friends,\u201d says Anderson. \u201cIt\u2019s always nice to document what you\u2019re doing in that time. With film, it makes it even better because looking back on those memories feels a lot more special and almost more important. You don\u2019t have 30 photos of the same thing on your phone. You\u2019ve got one photo of that specific moment.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ubuntu Film\u2019s cameras are manufactured overseas, because Anderson struggled to find a South African camera manufacturer at the right price point. But the company keeps as much else as possible local, from sticker sheets to accessories. The business remains small and family-run, with Anderson\u2019s younger sister helping to pack orders.<\/p>\n
![\"Ubuntu](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783484852_624_image.webp\")
\nPhotograph: Richard Holmes28mm fixed focus lens is great for portraits
<\/p>\n
\u201cUbuntu is obviously very South African,\u201d adds Anderson. \u201cIt has a very strong and deep meaning behind it. We didn\u2019t want it to be this shell brand where everything is done elsewhere. It just didn\u2019t feel right. We want to support local wherever we can.\u201d<\/p>\n
So who\u2019s it for?<\/p>\n
Well, just about anyone, really, and the brand has found a broad audience. Some buyers are drawn to the nostalgia of film. Others love the bright colours and retro appeal. Some order multiple cameras for weddings and events, leaving them on tables for guests to capture the day in a more candid fashion.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve taken mine to Namibia and around the city, and while my Google Photos account has hundreds of images from the last month of travel, I\u2019m only halfway through my roll of Kodak Ultramax loaded into my Ubuntu camera. It\u2019ll come with me on next month\u2019s island holiday, and perhaps then I\u2019ll get around to rewinding the film and sending it off for processing. When those images of Namibia\u2019s far-flung deserts and weekend escapades in the Cape do arrive, they\u2019ll be worth so much more \u2013 in money and memory \u2013 than the snaps on my phone.<\/p>\n
How to buy\u00a0an Ubuntu Film Co. camera Sign up to Time Out Cape Town’s free newsletter\u00a0<\/a>for expert recommendations on new things to do, see, eat and drink in the Mother City. You can also follow Time Out Cape Town on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0TikTok<\/a>!<\/p>\n
\n
\nThe Ubuntu Film Co. camera cost from R975 each, but with large discounts for multiple-camera ‘party packs’.
\nFilm is sold separately, and costs around R270 for a roll of 36 exposures.\u00a0
\nBuy online from https:\/\/www.ubuntufilm.co.za<\/a>
\nYou can get\u00a0your film processed at Orms<\/a>\u00a0or Cape Film Supply<\/a>.\u00a0
<\/p>\n